Passengers who have waited 10 years for proper links between buses and trains face another decade of delay after plans to start building an interchange this year were halted.

Bridgend County Borough Council has been negotiating to build an interchange at the town’s railway station since 2002, with the aim that passengers would alight from buses right outside the station – instead of walking through the town centre and up a steep hill.

The Welsh Government and European Union awarded the interchange scheme £2.2m, to be spent this year and over the next two next years. But Network Rail has now decided it might need the land for something else, for example if the railway is electrified.

Disappointed Bridgend councillors have put the interchange on ice until completion of electrification – which has not yet been authorised by the UK Government and could be 10 years away.

Rail campaigners branded the delay “disgusting” and a “kick in the teeth” for travellers.

Bridgend council’s Communities chief Louise Fradd confirmed the council had been in discussion with Network Rail regarding the detail of the proposed interchange since 2002-03.

Milestones achieved included demolition of the nearby Lorne Stewart building and obtaining agreement to proceed from Network Rail’s investment board.

“At no stage during these discussions did Network Rail indicate other than their total support for the scheme,” said Ms Fradd.

But in September, Network Rail had told the council the interchange works must not “compromise or restrict the future potential of Network Rail’s land and railway”.

And the infrastructure owner offered a fresh agreement – where Network Rail would reserve the right to convert the land to another use with just six months’ notice. This was unacceptable to the council and EU funding office.

Network Rail said: “The land may be required for future railway projects, for example, the electrification of the line.”

John Rogers, South Wales branch chairman of passenger campaign Railfuture, said: “It’s Bridgend that’s suffering, and the travellers. If you come out of the station on a wet day it’s quite a walk to the bus station. In places like Caerphilly the buses and trains are feet apart. This delay in Bridgend is a kick in the teeth for people who travel between bus and train.”